At WRI Environmental we specialize in fastwater spill response and inland spill response training. Last Christmas, I was put on standby for an inland oil spill response and spent over an hour collecting the right personal gear I’d need to be outside on a river in windy 10 degree weather. I was reminded that safely responding to a river emergency or spill in cold weather requires a little more preparation and equipment than in summer. The first way we manage risk as responders is by wearing the right personal clothing and gear for the conditions. This list is not that much different from my summer response checklist since in the mountain west the old saying is, “We have two seasons, winter and…..July.”

WRI Instructor Dr. John Amtmann completed a study at Montana Tech that tested how long workers in steel-toed boots and heavy work clothing could tread water after a sudden immersion. The answer is not long-sometimes less than one minute. This study was done in a warm pool, not ice cold, fast-moving river water. Wearing a properly fitted and buckled lifejacket is one of the most important risk management steps we can take when working on a river.

This may look like overkill, but it’s an incomplete list for Fastwater Spill Response. To be an effective and safe responder you need to be comfortable. Staying well-hydrated and fueled helps you stay warm. So start with the right equipment for the job, establish up stream and downstream safety, and always have a back-up plan. Let us know if there’s anything else that should be on the list.

“As the Water Rescue Team Leader for Missoula County Search and Rescue, WRI has been not only a great training resource but also a great partner on several of our swiftwater rescue and recoveries. Cody, Mike and WRI’s very capable and knowledgeable team of instructors teach from the perspective of having experienced the very missions that we are tasked with completing.”

R.J. Nelsen, Water Rescue Team Leader, Missoula County Search and Rescue